Every "world class city" seems to be undergoing a total revamp. There is so much construction, so many cranes and so much renovation around Paris it boggles my mind. No doubt when we get to London it will be the same. Cranes are the new artistic backdrop in major cities.
The Tour de Force was Sunday and I lost! What a crushing blow (haha). By the time we made it to the Champs Elysses the race was virtually over. The stragglers were still coming in. Needless to say this was a MAJOR event and people turned out in droves.
Paris is so alive with people, street musicians, cafes - all the things Paris is known for. The Parisians have been so friendly. I think it must be our anti-Trump buttons. People go ape shit over them. And then we're immediately their best friend. The only down side is that we end up talking about the Orange Mental Midget way too much. The whole idea was to get away from him. But that he's genius isn't it? His only genius because he's dumber than tree stump. But he Continue Reading

Paris. What can be said about Paris that hasn’t been said by people far more articulate and clever than I? Nothing. So I won’t try.
Paris is virtually perfect. The architecture, the Seine, the museums, the energy, the unparalleled beauty AND the chocolate. And nobody can make a croissant or bread like the French. Or food, in general. I tired of pasta, pizza and prosciutto. I’m so happy to have a broader selection. Not that I need a morsel of food. OMG. I’m practically obese and will have to buy an extra seat on airline!!
I admit to having had French prejudice, brought about largely as a result of WW2. But I’ve reevaluated all that and see it differently. Particularly now that America elected Trump. France is also more organized and efficient than Italy. I admit to liking more order, especially as I get older.
We’ve been here less than 24 hours and we’ve spoken to more people than we did in the entire last three months (except during the times friends visited). This time it’s a Continue Reading

I hate time. It does to fucking fast. Here we are only two days away from leaving Italy and heading for the last weeks in Paris and a quick side trip to London. I'm going to meet with a gallery where I've been asked to show my work. I'm sure there in NOTHING in it $$-wise, but it would look great on my resume, assuming I had one.
We're having a fantastic visit with Sadie, Tim and Tabby, their brilliant 20 year old daughter, whom we adore. The kid of person who travels with books by Thackerey and has a sublime sense of humor and perspective. The kind of child that makes you think, hmmm...having children could be fun. But if you're me you realize you wouldn't have that kind of child, you would've had a tattooed misogynist. Speaking of tattoos (which I loathe), the fad has hit Italia BIG TIME. I have seen so many tats on the most beautiful young people who have RUINED their flawless skin. I only wish I'd be around when their boobs reach the floor carrying their cherry tats with them. Continue Reading

One of the joys of traveling abroad these days is being able to convince yourself that you are more or less beyond the reach of Trumpism. Or at least that’s what I had been thinking over the past couple of months as Bonnie and I settled in Spain, France and now Italy. Of course, I wear my Trump button with his name crossed out and daily get high-fives from Europeans as a consequence. Also, some times we get a table in a restaurant that is “full up.” And I see bits and pieces of the news. Still, I feel quite removed from the U.S. and Trump and what he represents.
But yesterday day Trump’s ignorant and evil little hands reached across thousands of miles and touched me at a surprising moment. I was riding down in the funicular from the mountain top where the Italian town of Montecatini is located. One of my friends and house guests, Sadie Jones, the English novelist, was standing beside me as we both road open-air at the front of the funicular. Standing next to us were two elderly Continue Reading